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Auburn Public Schools warned of steep Title I cut that could halve program funding
Summary
Superintendent and finance staff told the school committee that preliminary Department of Education data projects a drop in Auburn’s Title I allocation from about $269,000 to roughly $110,000 for FY27, a change officials say could eliminate two Title I funding streams and threaten summer school and five paraprofessional positions.
Auburn — School officials warned the Auburn School Committee on Wednesday that federal Title I funding for the district could fall sharply next year, potentially forcing cuts to programs and staff.
Dr. Chamberlain and district finance staff said a March 5 memo from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) relayed preliminary federal calculations that, if confirmed in July, would reduce the district’s Title I award from about $269,000 this year to roughly $110,000 for FY27. "That’s a pretty significant drop for us," the district’s presenter said, summarizing the numbers and their likely effects.
Mister Kellem, who led a PowerPoint overview of Title I mechanics, said the change stems from updated federal inputs — including the 2020 census, 2024 American Community Survey figures, 2023 IRS filings and 2024 SNAP benefit counts — and from Auburn’s projected poverty rate falling below 5 percent. "Because our poverty rate is projected to be below 5% for next year, we lose access to two Title I funding streams," he said.
The district described concrete program risks tied to that preliminary estimate: five elementary‑level paraprofessional positions that currently support literacy and math could be at risk, dedicated Title I summer-school programming may not be able to run in FY27, and specific professional‑development contracts could be curtailed. "If it comes in at approximately what they're saying… it would be unlikely that we'll be able to offer [Title I summer school] next summer," Dr. Chamberlain said.
District leaders said they have taken conservative steps in the draft FY27 budget to avoid immediate layoffs if the award is smaller than this year’s: two positions currently funded by Title I have been left in the budget at a placeholder salary of $1 so the lines remain but are not fully funded until DESE’s final award is released in July. "We wanted to have a plan and some flexibility," Dr. Chamberlain said, adding that the district met with its DESE liaison and reviewed the data but was told the preliminary figures likely will stand.
Committee members pressed district staff on timing and next steps. Several members asked when affected support staff would be notified if funding is reduced; the superintendent said support positions are not subject to the same statutory notification deadlines as professional hires and that the district hopes to preserve the roles if carryover funds and the final award permit.
The committee discussed contingency options, including two‑budget scenarios and tracking carryover funds, and approved the FY27 budget as presented — a 3.922% increase over FY26 — while noting that some offsets will be adjusted when FY27 awards are finalized.
What’s next: DESE’s final Title I award in July will determine whether the district can fully fund the five positions and sustain the current summer programs. The committee asked for follow‑up once the award is official.
